Machine for feeding, stacking, and boxing articles



Aug. 18, 1936. J, V N BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING,- STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 F a-'1 M 5'3 INVENTOR mw/v new 502:

v Aug. 18, 1936. J. VAN BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 2s, 1954 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1/0 VIM/B 2511/ BY MA v: 5;; ATTORNEYS MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1954 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR d0)? Ill/V5025 1936. J. VAN BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1934 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 SECTION 4 -4 INVENTOR Jail/V VKI/VBl/EE/l BY M TTORNEYS 1936. J. VAN BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1954 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 lNV ENTOR Jdl/IV rmv BUEEW TTORNEYJ /wwumw' 8, 1936. J. VAN BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 5 a g g 31 INVENTOR JOHN V/YIVBUEE BY t H a a V ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1936. J VAN BUREN 2,051,190

' STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES MACHINE FOR FEEDING,

Filed Aug. 28, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR 105M! VIVA 84 E45 ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1936. J, VAN BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 &

Aug. 18, 1936. J VAN BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG.- 13

FIG.-17 re 7; FIG.-14

FIG.- 18 FIG.- 15

INVYENTOR .xomv VIM/.801?! ATTORNEYJ'.

Aug. 18, 1936. J, V BUREN 2,051,190

MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 28, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 FIG.- 19

FIGJ'Zi FIG-422 60 INVENTOR Jul/1v VII/50.95

fiimwk ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1936. J. VAN BUREN MACHINE FOR FEEDING, STACKING, AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed Aug. '28, 1934 11 Sheefcs-Sheet Ira r E K INVENTOR JflH/V 169N801?! M nu 2H ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John Van Buren, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 28, 1934, Serial No. 741,790

13 Claims. (Cl. 226-14) This invention relates to a machine for feeding, stacking and boxing articles.

. Although the machine is capable of use in handling many different kinds of articles it has been particularly worked out for the purpose of handling wrapped articles, such as wrapped cakes of soap.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed and arranged as to handle a plurality of rows of articles simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide conveyor means for feeding the articles to the feeding and stacking mechanism having control means for automatically rendering the conveyor feed inoperative when the stacking mechanism is operative.

Another object of the invention is to provide stacking mechanism so constructed and arranged as to stack a plurality of rows of articles and automatically operable boxing mechanism arranged to feed the stacked articles into a container after predetermined load or number of articles has been deposited on the support from which they are fed to the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character specified, means for automatically stacking a plurality of rows of articles one above the other. 30 Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. l; 40 Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the right hand end of the machine viewing Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the other end of 45 the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away, showing the delivery end of the feed conveyors and the control means therefor;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 'l

50 but showing the control means for the feed conveyor in the position taken when the load has been delivered to the supporting platforms by the conveying mechanisms;

- Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken at right 55 angles to Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the control mechanism in the position shown in Fig.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional elevation through the feed conveyors showing the parts 5 in operative position;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the presser members which act on the conveyor belts to press the belts against the articles being fed, in inoperative position; 10

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional elevation showing a pusher plate for feeding the articles to the stacking mechanism at the end of its feeding stroke;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing 15 the pusher plate at the beginning of its retractive movement and the vertically movable platform in elevated position;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but shows the pusher plate substantially at the end of its 20 retractive position and also shows the vertically movable platform lowered to its lowermost position and a laterally movable platform positioned beneath the articles which have been raised on the vertically movable platform;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive, but shows the pusher plate feeding a second load of articles to the vertically movable platform;

Fig. 1'7 is a transverse sectional elevation showing the supporting platforms for the articles delivered by the conveying means and also showing the control means for the pusher plate;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but shows the control mechanism in the position taken when a full load has been delivered to the supporting platforms by the conveyor mechanisms;

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional elevation showing the vertically movable platform in elevated position with a full load of articles thereon and also the feed plate and the discharge plunger in position to discharge this load from the vertically movable platform;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 but illustrates the load discharged from the vertically movable platform;

Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 20 but shows two vertically arranged rows of articles positioned on the platform prior to being fed into a container or box;

Fig. 23 is a detail sectional elevation showing the box supporting means and feeding mechanism for feeding the load into the box, the parts 'being shown just prior to the operation of" the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 showing the load of articles fed into the box and the box tilted to discharge position; and

Fig. '25 is a detailsectional elevation showing the driving. gearing and connections. for the pusher plate which discharges the load of articles into the container or box.

The invention briefly described consists of a machine comprising a plurality of feeding and stacking mechanisms so relatively constructed and arranged that a plurality of rows of articles can be handled simultaneously and can .be stacked, assembled and discharged into boxes or containers.

The articles are fed into the machine by a plurality or pair of superposed conveyor mechanisms, such as conveyor belts arranged to press against the ends oi. the articles. presser means are provided in conjunction with each conveyor mechanism, control means for these presser means being arranged to release thepresser means-to permit them to move to inoperative position when a load of articles or a predetermined number of articles have been delivered by the conveyor mechanisms.

The articles are delivered in two rows by the conveyor mechanism to supporting platforms and are fed from these platforms to a vertically movable platform when a predetermined load or number of articles has been delivered to each platform. The articles delivered on the platforms control the operation of the feed means or pusher plate which feeds the articles from the supporting platforms to the vertically movable platform.

A laterally movable platform is provided for receiving and supporting the rows of articles delivered to the vertically movable platform after the last named platform has been raised or elevated. As the articles are fed to the vertically movable platform the laterally or horizontally movable platform is retracted and this platform is moved back to operative position beneath the elevated platform and the articles supported thereby.

After a predetermined load of articles has been moved to the vertically movable platform these articles are discharged therefrom to a stationary platform and this operation is repeated in the particular embodiment of the machine illustrated until a predetermined number of vertical stacks of articles have been deposited on the stationary platform from the vertically movable platform.

When this has been accomplished the stacks of articles on the stationary platform are discharged therefrom into a container or box mount ed on a tiltable support, the support automatically tilting to discharge position when a load has been deposited in the box.

v Further details of the invention will appear,

from the following description.

, In order to facilitate the understanding of the invention the operation of the various feeding, stacking and discharge mechanisms will be described under separate headings.

Conveyor mechanism This mechanism is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1,3, and 6 to 12 inclusive. The machine Releasable or into two conveying mechanisms. The conveying mechanisms are superimposed or are arranged one above the other and deliver the articles in two rows to a pair of supporting platforms hereinafter described.

The articles are fed along supporting rails 30 and 30A mounted on a suitable machine frame 3|. Each conveyor mechanism comprises a pair of endless belts 32 and 33 mounted on pulleys 34 and 35 at their delivery ends. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown the two conveyor mechanisms are arranged at an angle to each other although, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the delivery ends of the conveyor mechanisms are disposed in substantially the same vertical planes.

The conveyor belts 32 and 33 of each set of conveyor mechanisms are engaged adjacent their delivery ends by a plurality of relatively stationary presser rollers 36 which, press against the belts 32 and by releasable presser members or rollers 31 arranged to press against the belts II. The rollers 31 are mounted on angle iron members 38 and 38A having depending arms 39 and 39A mounted on pivots l0 and "A. An, arm A is fixed to and extends laterally from the angle iron member "A, as shown particularly in Figs. 11 and 12.

When the conveyor mechanisms are operating the angle iron members 38 and 38A and the presser rollers ll carried thereby 'are held in operative position by an arm 42 having a notched upper end 43 arranged to engage beneath the arm A. The angle iron member 38 also has secured thereto a laterally extending arm ll and a link 44 is pivoted at 45A to the arm A and at 45 to the arm "A. The link 44 extends downwardly and is pivoted at its lower end to an arm 46 of a bell crank lever mounted on a spindle 41 and having a second arm 48 to which is secured a stud 49. The stud 49 is engaged in a manner hereinafter described by a lever arm to reset the angle iron members 38 and 88A and the presser rollers carried thereby after the operation of the feed mechanism which discharges the two rows of articles from the supporting platforms on which they are delivered by the conveyor mechanisms.

The arm 42 is mounted on a spindle 50 to which is also secured an arm 5|. The upper end of the arm Si is pivoted to a link 52 and this link is pivoted at its opposite end to a lever 53 mounted on a fixed pivot 54 and having the opposite end thereof pivotally connected to a link 55. 55 is controlled by control means operated by the rows of articles delivered by the conveyor mechanisms in a manner hereinafter described. After been delivered by the two sets of conveyor mechanisms the link 55 will be moved to the right viewing Fig. 8 causing the lever 53 to move in a clockwise direction, thus moving the link 52 to the left and through the arm 5| and spindle 50 causing the arm 42 to be withdrawn from the position shown in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 12. When this support for the angle iron members has been withdrawn these members will tilt downwardly, as shown in Fig. 12, under the action of gravity, thus moving the presser rollers 31 to inoperative position and releasing the pressure against the ends of the articles being fed. The feeding of the articles by the conveyor mechanisms will thus be interrupted and will not be resumed until the stud I9 is engaged in a manner hereinafter described to swing the bell crank two complete rows or charges of articles have I lever 48, 46 in an anticlockwise direction, thus moving the arms 4| and A and angle iron members upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 11. As soon as these members have been so actuated a spring 54A which is connected to the arm 42 will cause the arm 42 to swing inwardly beneath the arm 38A, thus retaining the presser members in operative position.

At the discharge end of the upper conveying mechanism a downwardly inclined discharge chute is provided to guide the articles discharged therefrom to the supporting platform provided for receiving the articles. This chute comprises a downwardly inclined bottom member 60, side walls 6| and a removable top plate 62.

Article receiving platforms and feeding and discharge mechanism therefor This mechanism is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 13 to 18 inclusive. The articles discharged from the lower conveyor mechanism are received on a supporting plate or platform 65 and the articles discharged from the upper conveyor mechanism are received on a platform comprising a plurality of parallel arms or strips 66 carried by a bar 61.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings each of the platforms is arranged to receive a row of wrapped articles comprising five articles. After a complete row of flve articles has been fed to each of the supporting platforms 65 and 66 control mechanism is actuated to move the link 55 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to the right releasing the presser rollers 31 from engagement with the belts 33 of both con veyor mechanisms. These control members which are actuated by the two rows of articles fed to the supporting platforms also control the operation of the feeding member or pusher plate which discharges the two rows simultaneously from the platforms 65 and 66 to a vertically movable platform 68 carried by a plunger 69.

At the inner end of each of the platforms 65 and 66 there is mounted an arm, the arms being designated as 10 and 10A, both arms being mounted on a vertical pivot pin II The articles are discharged from the platforms 65 and 66 by a pusher plate I2 which is carried by an arm I3 mounted on a pivot pin 14. The pin "I4 is carried by a block 15 slidably mounted on guide rods 16. The pivot pin 14 also has secured thereto an arm I'I- having a roller I8 on the free end thereof. The roller I8 is adapted to reciprocate in a track formed by guide members I9 and 80, an arm 8I being pivoted at 82 to the front end of the guide member I9. The arm M has secured thereto a rearwardly extending projection 83 arranged to engage a stop pin 84 which limits the movement of the arm in an anticlockwise direction, the arm being free to swing on its pivot in the opposite direction.

During the feeding of a load of articles to the platforms 65 and 66 the pusher plate is held in an elevated position shown in Fig. 15 in which position the roller 18 reciprocates in the path provided by the guide members I9 and 80. Means is provided, however, for permitting the roller I8 and the pusher plate to swing downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 13 and 16 when a predetermined load of articles has been deposited on the supporting platforms 65 and 66.

The arms I0 and 10A have formed thereon upwardly extending projections 85 and 85A having laterally extending flanges 86 and 86A at their upper ends, the flange 86 being disposed beneath the flange 86A.

At its rearmost extreme position of movement shown in Fig. 15, the roller 18 rests on the flange 86A carried by the upwardly extending arm or extension 85A which in turn is carried by the arm 10A. However, when a complete load of articles, such as flve articles, have been delivered to the platform 66 the arm 10A will swing on its pivot, thus withdrawing the supporting flange 86A from beneath the roller 18. Since articles are also being fed to the lower platform 65 at the same time as they are being fed to the upper platform, in the normal operation of the machine a complete load of articles will have been deposited on the platform 65. If this be the case the arm I0 will also swing on its pivot II, thus withdrawing the flange 86 and the roller I8 will be permitted to swing downwardly to a position between flanges 90 formed on the arm 10A. The pusher plate I2 will also swing downwardly to a position in the rear of the two rows of articles disposed on the platforms 65 and 66 and on its forward movement will feed the articles, as shown in Fig. 13, to a position on the vertically movable platform 68. After the pusher plate has fed the two rows of articles to the vertically movable platform 68, on its return movement the roller I8 will ride up on the outer edge of the arm 8| and will again reciprocate between the guide members I9 and 80 until a complete load of articles has again been deposited on each of the platforms 65 and 66.

The pivoted arms I0 and 10A not only control the feeding operation of the pusher plate I2, but also control the release of the presser rollers 31 by the actuation of the link 55. This is accomplished in the following manner: The link 55 is pivoted at to the lower end of an arm 96 mounted on a fixed pivot 91. The arm 0'5 also has pivoted thereon at 98 an equalizer 99. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the arm 10A has adjustably connected to a depending lug I00 carried thereby a stud Illl. A stud I02 is similarly connected to the arm I0. These studs are arranged to engage opposite ends of the equalizer 99. If both of the arms I0 and 10A are swung backwardly on their pivots by complete loads on the two platforms the studs If and I02 by engagement with the ends of the equalizer 99 will swing the arm 96 in an anticlockwise direction viewing Fig. 10, thus moving the link 55 shown in Fig. 8 to the right and in the manner hereinabove described causing the arm 42 to be withdrawn from supporting position with relation to the arm 4IA permitting the presser members 31 to swing to inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 12. In order to cause the release of the presser members it is necessary that both platforms be completely loaded since otherwise the equalizer 99 will be merely swung on its pivot 98 and will not swing the arm 96 to actuate the link 55 and release the presser rollers 31.

Driving connections for pusher plate ative position, as shown in Fig. 13, only when two complete rows or loads of articles have been deposited on the platforms 66 and 66.

The arm H2 in addition to operating the pusher plate also engages the stud 46 on its forward movement, as shown in Fig. 6, to reset the presser rollers 31 or to return them to operative position.

Vertical elevator and horizontally movable platform and transfer mechanism This mechanism is particularly illustrated in Figs. 4, 13 to 16 and 19 to 22 inclusive. As above .described, the vertically movable platform or elevator 68 is mounted on the upper end of a plunger 63. This plunger is periodically actuated in the following manner:

A link I20 which is connected at its lower end to an arm I2I mounted on a pivot I22, a roller I23 being carried by the arm I 2|. 'The roller I23 is positioned in a cam groove I24 fixed to or formed on a disk I26 rotatably mounted on a shaft I26. The disk I26 has pivotally mounted thereon a pawl I21 which.in certain periods of the cycle .of operation of the machine, as hereinafter described, is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel I28 loosely mounted on the shaft I26.

The ratchet wheel I20 is fixed to and movable with a gear I28 which is also loosely mounted on the shaft I26 and meshes with the gear I06 mounted on the shaft I06. The shaft I06 and gear I06 are continuously driven, thus continuously rotating the gear I 28 and ratchet wheel I26. However, the pawl I21 engages the ratchet wheel only at certain periods in the cycle of operation so that the elevator platform 68 is raised only after a load or two complete rows of articles have been deposited thereon by the pusher plate 12, as shown in Figs. 13 and i4.

The engagement of the pawl I2'I with the ratchet wheel I28 is controlled by means actuated by the retraction of a horizontally or laterally movable transfer platform I30 having depending lugs I3I slidably mounted on guide rods I32 carried by supports I33 secured to the top of the machine table or frame I34. The platform I30 comprises a series of parallel spaced connected bars I36 having depending angular, flanges I36 on the ends thereof. The horizontally movable platform I30 is reciprocated by means of a link I31 connected to the depending lugs I3I at one end and at its opposite end connected to an arm I38 mounted on a pivot I36. The arm I38 is connected by a'link I40 and by a pin'and slot connection I, I42 to the arm II2. This pin and slot connection permits the table I 30 to be pushed toward the left viewing Fig. 4 and Figs. 13 to 16 by the two rows of articles as they are fed on the vertically movable platform 68 by the pusher plate I2. The pusher plate in turn is actuated by the arm H2 and when this arm is .moved toits maximum retracted position the pin I will engage the right hand end of. the slot I42 and pull the link I40 to the right viewing Fig. 4, thus moving the horizontally movable table I30 to the position shown in Fig. 15. During this movement or during this cycle of operation the vertically movable platform 68 is successively raised and lowered in the following mannet:

The pawl I2I carried by the disk I26 is normally held in retracted pomtion or out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I26 by means of the ens sement with the tail I46 of the pawl of an adjustable stud I46 carried by an arm I41 mounted on the spindle or shaft I22. The arm I41 forms part of a bell crank lever, the other part being formed by an arm I46 having a laterally projecting adjustably mounted stud I46 at the upper end thereof. The arm I46 'is normally urged in an anticlockwise direction by a spring I 60. A spring I6I normally urges the pawl I2I toward the ratchet wheel I26.

The movement of the arm I46 under the actuation of spring I is controlled by a stop lug I62 which is carried by an arm I63 which is fixed to the shaft I36 on which is also fixed the arm I36. The mechanism Just described operates as follows: When the horizontally movable table I30 is pushed backwardly to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 13 by the two rows of articles fedto the vertically movable platform 66 the arm I36 will cause the shaft I38, the arm I 63 and stop lug I62 carried thereby to swing in an anticlockwise direction and release the stud I46 carried by the arm I46. The arm I46 will thereupon be moved by the spring I60 in an anticlockwise direction viewing Fig. 4, thus raising the stud I46 from engagement with the tail I46 of the pawl I2I. Upon the release of the pawl the spring I6 I will force the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel I28 and the rotation of the ratchet wheel will cause through the pawl a rotation of the disk I26 and cam I24, thus through the roller I 23 causing the oscillation of the arm I2I and the raising and lowering of. the vertically movable platform 66.

The pawl mechanism just described is reset by a cam I66 which is fixed to the disk I26 and engages a ing or roller I66 mounted on an arm I6'I which is fixed to the arm I46. As this arm is moved in a clockwise direction by the cam action the stud I49 will be positioned in back of the'stop lug I62 carried by the arm I63 which has again moved downwardly due to the actuation of the arm I38 in the manner above described.

The feeding of the articles from the platforms 66 and 66 to the vertically movable platform 66 and the stacking of the articles on this platform will be clear from the showing in Figs. 13 to 22 inclusive. In Fig. 13 the pusher plate I2 has fed two rows of. articles arranged one above the other to the vertically movable platform 66. During this movement the horizontally movable platform I30 has been moved to the left by the engagement of the depending portion or flanges I36 with the articles fed on the platform 66.

After the articles have reached the position shown in Fig. 13 the platform 68 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 14 and thereupon the fingers or bars I36 which form the outer end of the platform I30 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 15 and the vertically movable platform 66 is lowered.

As the next succeeding rows .of articles are fed to the platform 68 in' the manner shown in Fig. 16 they will be positioned beneath the two rows already fed and by the withdrawal of the platform I30 the two upper rows will rest on the two lower rows which are in turn supported on the vertically movable platform 68. The two upper rows are held against retraction with the platform I30 by the front edge of a stationary support or platform I60.

In the foregoing manner the stack of. articles is built up until eight horizontal rows have been deposited on the vertically movable platform 68, as shown in Fig. 19.

This mechanism is particularly illustrated in Figs. 4, 6 and 19. A pusher plate I BI is carried by horizontally movable rods I62, these rods being connected to a reciprocable block I63 slidably mounted on guide rods I64. A link I65 is connected to the block I63 and is also connected to one end of a lever arm I66 fixed to the shaft I I3. An arm I61 is fixed to the shaft H3 and is connected at its upper end to a link I68. The link I68 is connected to a crank pin I69 carried by a disk I10 on which is also mounted a pawl I1I. The disk I10 is fixed on a shaft I12 which is dis posed in alinement with the shaft I05, but is not connected thereto. This will be clear from the showing in Fig. 3. The disk and pawl are driven periodically from a ratchet wheel I13 which is fixed on and driven by the shaft I05. The engagement of the pawl I10 with the ratchet wheel I13 is controlled in the following manner: The pawl I1I has a tail I14 which is normally engaged by an adjustable stud I15 carried by a bell crank lever I16, I11 mounted on a fixed pivot I18. The arm I11 of the bell crank lever is provided with a notch I19 arranged to receive a pin I80 carried by an arm I8I pivotally mounted on a spindle or shaft I82. An arm I83 is also mounted on the spindle I82 and is connected to the arm I8I and a spring I84 is connected to the arm I83 and normally urges the arms I8I and I83 in an anticlockwise direction.

The arm I8I carries a roller I85 which engages a cam I86 which is fixed to and driven by a gear I81 rotatably mounted on a spindle I88. The gear I81 meshes with a gear I89, these two gears being proportioned in a one to eight ratio. The gear I89 is fixed on the shaft I26 which controls the operation of the vertically movable platform 68.

The mechanism for operating the pusher plate I6I is operated as follows: The gear I89 will rotate the gear I81 and the cam I86 fixed thereto and will thereby swing the arm I8I in a clockwise direction about its pivot I82, thus moving the stop pin I80 out of the path of the arm I11 of the bell crank lever I16, I11. This will release the lug I15 from engagement with the tail I14 of the pawl I1I permitting the pawl actuating spring I90 to move the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel I13. The pawl and disk I10 will thus be rotated and the crank pin I69 will cause the link I68 to be reciprocated, thus actuating the link I65 and the block I63 and causing the feed plate or pusher plate I6I to move from the position shown in Fig. 19 to the position shown in Fig. 20. This feeding operation is interrupted by the resetting of the pawl control lever I16 in the following manner: An arm I9I is connected to the shaft I18 and thus to the arm I16, the arm I9I having secured to its free end a roller I92 which is disposed in engagement with a reset cam I93 fixed to the disk I10. Thus, as the disk I10 rotates the cam I93 will cause the arm I9I to move in an anticlockwise direction and will cause the corresponding movement of the arms I16 and I11. Thus, the stop pin I88 will snap under the arm I11 and the stud I15 will engage the tail I14 of the pawl Ill and lift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I13.

The transfer operation of the vertical stack of rows of articles will be repeated for a second vertical stack and when this stack is transferred to the platform I60 the first stack of articles will be pushed along the platform thereby. When two stacks have been transferred to the platform I60, as shown in Fig. 22, the complete load of articles is discharged from the platform I60 into a box or container in the following manner:

Load feeding and boxing mechanism This mechanism is particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 23 and 24. After a complete load of articles has been deposited on the platform I60 the articles are discharged from the platform into a box or container B in the following manner: A pusher plate 200 is carried by a. pair of rods I slidably mounted in bearings 202. The pusher plate is actuated by a link 203 which is pivoted at 204 to the plate and is connected at its rear end to a lever or rocker 205 mounted on a fixed pivot 206. The lever or rocker 205 is provided with a longitudinal slot 201 in which is positioned a roller 208 carried by a disk 209 fixed to a shaft 2 I0. A second disk 2I I is also fixed to the shaft 2I0 and carries a pawl 2I2 which is adapted to periodically engage a ratchet wheel 2I3 loosely mounted on the shaft 2I0. The ratchet wheel 2I3 is fixed to a bevel gear 2I4 which meshes with a gear 2I5 carried by a shaft 2I6. The shaft 2I6 has mounted thereon a gear 2 I1 which meshes with a gear 2I8 carried by the shaft I05.

The engagement of the pawl 2 I2 by the ratchet wheel 2I3 is controlled in the following manner:

The pawl 2I2 has a tail 220 which is normally engaged by an adjustable stud 22I carried by an arm 222 mounted on a spindle 223. An arm 224- is fixed or connected to the disk 2 which carries the pawl 2I2.

A second arm 221 is also mounted on the spindle 223 and is connected to the arm 222. A stud 228 is secured to the end of the arm 221 and is positioned in the path of movement of and adapted to engage a stud 229 which is mounted on an arm 230 pivoted at 23I. This arm 230 is normally urged in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 6 by a spring 232, this movement being limited by an adjustable set screw 233 which is disposed in the path of a lug 234 carried by the arm 230. The stud 229 which is carried by the arm 230 is engageable by a roller 235 carried by a gear 236 which meshes with a gear 231 mounted on and driven by the shaft I12. The gears 231 and 236 are proportioned in a ratio of from two to one.

The feed plate 200, operates as follows: At the correct point in the cycle of operation of the machine the roller 235 will move the stud 229 laterally out of the path of the stud 228 carried by the arm 221. This will permit a spring 240 to swing the arm 222 and stud 22I carried thereby away from engagement with the tail 220 of the pawl 2I2 thereby permitting the pawl actuating spring 24I to move the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel 2 I 3. This will cause the disk 209 which is connected to the shaft 2I0 on which the pawl disk is mounted to rotate carrying with it the roller 208 and thus oscillating the arm 205 and causing the load to be discharged from the platform I60.

B01: supporting platform and tilting mechanism therefor This mechanism is illustrated partic in Figs. 1', 2, 23 and 24. ..The box or container is supported on a frame 255 mounted on a pivot shaft 25!. At the rear end of the frame 255 are disposed a pair of arms 252 which form a rear stop and engage the rear wall of the box B. The fingers or arms 252 are carried by a spindle 255 and are actuated by a spring 254 to operative position. A stud 255 is adiustablycarried by a lug 255 fixed on the spindle 255.. .T e stud 255 is arranged to engage a stop 25,1 carried by the frame 255. This limits the movement of the fingers 252 in a clockwise direction and is so adjusted that the fingers 252 will be disposed in vertical position, as shown in Fig. 23. r

The spindle 255 also has connected thereto a lug 258 which is arranged to engage an adjustable stud 258 carried by a bar 255 fixed to the .frame of the machine.

to a lever arm 255 which is mounted on a fixed pivot 254. The arm 255 has mounted thereon a roller 255 which is mounted in a cam groove 255 formed on a cam 251 fixed on a shaft 258. The shaft 255 also has mounted thereon a disk 258 which carries a pawl 215 arranged under predetermined conditions to engage and be driven by a ratchet wheel 2" loosely mounted on the shaft 255. The ratchet wheel has connected thereto a bevel gear 212 which meshes with a bevel gear 215 carried by ,the shaft 215.

The pawl 215 is controlled by the following mechanism: This pawl has a tail215 normally en- 'gaged by'an adjustable stud 215 carried by a lever arm 211 mounted on the pivot shaft 254. An

arm 218 is also mounted on the shaft 254 and is connected to the arm 211. The arm 218 is provided at its upper end with a notch 218 arranged to receive ;a pin 285 carried by a bell crank lever 281,282 mounted on a pivot shaft 255. The bell crank lever is normally urged in a clockwise direction 'viewing Fig. 23 by a spring 254, this movement being limitedby a stop 255 and an adjustable stop stud 285. The arm 282 of the bell crank lever has pivotally connected thereto a link 281, the other end of the link being connected to an arm 288 mounted on a fixed pivot 258. An adjustable set screw or stud 285 is carried by the upper end of the arm 288 and is disposed in a path of movement of a stud or pin 25! carried by one of the rods 25L When the presser plate 255 is moved to its inner extreme of movement or to -'its full discharge position the stud or pin 28! will engage the adjustable stud or set screw 285 andwill thus swing the arm 285 in an anticlockwise direction causing the link 251 to swing the bell crank lever 28!, 282 in an anticlockwise direction. moving the pin 255 out of the notch 218 formed in the upper end of the arm 218. This will release the stud 215 from engagement with the tall 215 of the pawl 215 permit- I ting the pawl actuating spring to swing the pawl Tinto engagement with the ratchet 2".

cam 251 and the cam will through the roller 255 actuate the arm 255 and swing the container supporting frame 255 downwardly about its pivot 251 to the position shown in Fig. 24.

After the container supporting frame has been g tilted downwardly in the manner described it will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 28 and the pawl 215 will be automatically released from engagement with the ratchet wheel 2 in the following manner: An am 252 is mounted on 10 the spindle 254 and is fixed with relation to the arm 211. Ann 282 has secured to its free end-a roller 285 which is disposed in engagement with a-reset-cam 254' which is mountedon the shaft --258--and is connected to rotate with the 15 pawl disk 258. as the cam 254 actuates the arm 282 the arm 211 will be moved in an anticlockwise direction causing the stud 215 to engage the tall 215 of the pawl 215, thus releasing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet! Rsum of operation of the machine The operations of the various mechanisms in the' machine have been outlined in connection with the descriptions of said mechanisms and therefore a detailed summary of operations is, not deemed necessary. Briefly, stated, however, the machine operates as follows:

The two sets of conveying mechanisms includ-' ing the two superposed sets of conveying belts feed two rows of articles to the two platforms 55 and 55. In the particular machine illustrated a complete load for each platform comprises five articles and when each of the platforms has re-- ceived a complete load the control arms 15 and 15A will through the equalizer 55 swing the arm 85 on its pivot, thus, through the linkage means hereinbefore described causing the arm 42 to swing from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 10. This will permit the Q0 presser rollers 51 to move to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 12,- thus releasing the pressure of the belts against the ends of the articles and interrupting the feeding of the articles tov the platforms by the conveyor mechanisms.

The actuation of the arms 15 and 15A will also permit the roller 18 on the arm 11 to swing downwardly thus allowing the pusher plate 12 to engage behind the two rows of articles on the platforms 55 and 55, whereupon the pusher plate 0 will feed the two rows of articles to the vertically movable platform 58.

After the platform 58 has received a load the.v platform will be raised to the position shown in Fig. 14 whereupon the horizontally or laterally movable platform I55 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 15 to support the articles which have been deposited on the platform 55. The, latter platform is then lowered. as shown in Fig. 15. 7

This operation is repeated and the two rows of articles fed by the pusher plate will b guccessively positioned beneath the rows already positioned on the platform I55 in the manner shown in Fig. 16 until a complete charge of articles has 14 been deposited on the platform 68, the charge in the machine illustrated comprising eight horizontal rows of articles, as shown in Fig. 19.

When eight rows of articles have been placed on the platform 68 the pusher plate IGI will be actuated and will deposit the charge on the stationary platform 160, as shown in Fig. 20.

This operation will be repeated until a second charge or stack of eight rows has been placed on the platform I60, as shown in Fig. 22. Thereupon the pusher plate 200 will be actuated to feed the load on the platform I60 into the container or box B which is supported on the tiltable platform 250. When the load has been deposited in the box B the platform 250 will be tilted to the positionshown in Fig. 24 and the box will be released and will fall by gravity to a delivery conveyor or other suitable delivery means not shown.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that a simple, practical and efficient machine has been designed for feeding, stacking and boxing articles, and that the machine will operate automatically to feed a plurality of rows of articles simultaneously to the stacking mechanism, will stack the articles until a complete load has been assembled and will deposit the load in a box and discharge the loaded box from the machine.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. as expressed in the following claims.

WhateI claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described. article supporting means, means engageable with a plurality of articles on said support for feeding the articles as a unit, means including continuously operating feed belts and means for pressing the belts toward each other for feeding the articles to the support, and means operative when a predetermined number of articles have been fed to the support for rendering said pressing means inoperative and thereby rendering said feeding belts inoperative to feed the articles to the'support.

2. In a machine of the character described, article supporting means, means engageable with the articles on said supporting means to feed the articles simultaneously as a unit, a plurality of article conveying means for feeding articles to said supporting means, presser means co acting with each conveying means for rendering said conveying means inoperative to feed the articles, and means controlled by the articles on the supporting means and operative on the presser means for rendering the article conveying means inoperative when the supporting means have received predetermined charges of articles from said conveylng means.

3. In a machine of the character described, article supporting means, a vertically movable platform, means for feeding articles from the supporting means to said platform, means for raising the platform, a laterally movable platform, and means for moving said last named platform beneath the articles on said elevated platform to support the articles after said vertically movable platform is lowered, said laterally movable platform being movable out of operative position as each charge is fed to the vertically movable platform.

4. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, a lateraily movable platform disposed in a plane above the plane of the lowermost position of the vertically mova ble platform and substantially in the plane of the uppermost position thereof, means for feeding articles to the vertically movable platform, means on the laterally movable platform engageable by articles during their movement onto the vertically movable platform whereby the movement of the articles will move the laterally movable platform away from a position over the other platform, means for raising the vertically movable platform, and means for moving the laterally movable platform beneath the articles after they have been raised on the other platform. v

5. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, a laterally movable platform disposed in a plane above the plane of the lowermost position of the vertically movable platform and substantially in the plane of the uppermost position thereof, means for feeding articles to the vertically movable platform, means on the laterally movable platform engageable by articles during their movement onto the vertically movable platform whereby the movement of the articles will move the laterally movable platform away from a position over the other platform, means engageable with articles supported on the laterally movable platform for holding the articles against movement with the laterally movable platform as the platform is moved laterally by the fed articles, means for raising the vertically movable platform, and means for moving the laterally movable platform beneath the articles after they have been raised on the other platform.

6. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, a laterally movable platform disposed in a-plane above the plane of the lowermost position of the vertically movable platform and substantially in the plane of the uppermost position thereof, means for feeding articles to the vertically movable platform, means on the laterally movable platform engageable by articles during their movement onto the vertically movable platform whereby the movement of the articles will move the laterally movable platform away from a position over the other platform, means engageable with articles supported on the laterally movable platform for holding the articles against movement with the laterally movable platform as the platform is moved laterally by the fed articles, means for raising the vertically movable platform, means for moving the laterally movable platform beneath the articles after they have been raised on the other platform, and means for discharging the articles from the vertically movable platform when a predetermined load has been placed thereon.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, means for feeding articles to said platform, a laterally movable platform disposed in a plane above the receiving plane of the vertically movable platform and arranged to move beneath and support articles raised by said vertically movable platform, and means to move said laterally movable platform beneath the raised articles, said laterally movable platform being movable out of operative position as each charge is fed to the vertically movable platform. Y

beneatmthe-raised articles, said laterally movable platform being movable by the articles fed on the vertically movable platform from beneath the articles supported thereon to permit the fed articles to move beneath the articles previously fed and transferred to'the laterally movable platform. r

9. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, means for feeding articles to said platform, a laterally movable platform'disposed in a plane above the receiving plane of the vertically movable platform and arranged to move beneath and support articles raised by said vertically movable platform, positively' actuated means .to move said laterally movable platform beneath the raised articles, and means to discharge the articles from the vertically movable platform when a predetermined load has been placed thereon, said laterally movable platform being movable out of operative position as" each charge is fed to the vertically movable platform.

10. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, means for feeding articles to said platform, a laterally movable platform disposed in a plane above the receiving plane of the vertically movable platform and arranged to move beneath and support articles raised by said vertically movable platform, and means to move saidlaterally movable platform beneath the raised articles, said laterally movable platform being movable from beneath the v supported articles as the ma of articles is'fed to the vertically-movable platform. v

11. In a machine augus -sate: described, a vertically movable platform, hieaifl-for feeding articles to said platform, a laterally movable platform disposed in a plane above" the receiving plane of the vertically movable platform and arranged to move beneath, and support articles raised by said vertically movable platform',:means.

succeeding load to move said laterally movable platform beneath the raised articles, said laterally movable platform being movable from-beneath the supported articles as the next succeeding load of articles is fed to the vertically movable platform, and 5 means to discharge the articles from the vertically. movable platform when a predetermined load has been placed thereon.

12. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, means for feeding articles to said platform, a laterally movable platform disposed in a'plane above the receiving plane of the vertically movable platform, and arranged to move beneath and support articles raised by said vertically movable platform, means 15 to move said laterally movable platform beneath the raised articles, said laterally movable, platform being movable from beneath the supported articles as thenext succeeding load of articles is 1 fed to the vertically movable platform, means to discharge the articles from the vertically movable platform when a predetermined load has been placed thereon, a third platform for receiving the discharged articles, and means operative when a predetermined loadhas been placed on the third platform for discharging the articles therefrom.

13. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable platform, means for feeding articles to said platform, a laterally movable platform disposed in a plane above the receiving plane of the vertically movable platform and arranged to move beneath and support articles raised by said vertically movable platform, means to move said laterally movable platform beneath the raised articles, said laterally movable platform being movable from beneath the supported articles as the next succeeding load of articlw is fed to the vertically movable platform, means to discharge the articles from the vertically movable platform when a predetermined load has been placed thereon, a third platform for receiv ing the discharged articles, means operative when a predetermined load has been placed on the third platform for discharging the articles therefrom, and a container support arranged to sup- I port a container in position to receive the articles discharged from the third platform.

JOHN VAN BUREN. 

